helvellyn

I think at almost any time of year the weather is pleasant enough at 6am to excercise, so I think that is your solution. Also, you do get used to the weather, so if you were to retire here I think you'd find exercising in the heat would become easier over time - nevertheless, you'll still want to keep to early mornings and evenings if exercising outside.

I think, a pescatarian is a neologism that ceased to be such.

I'm a hummusitarian today, one who eats mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic.

Bon appétit!

Yum! Wish I could get that here in Sisaket.

Apparently, there is a theory (not sure if it is a fact) that lactose intolerance in adults is the default condition and we in the West just managed to build a higher level tolerance to dairy due to high consumption since birth.

There is quite a bit of substantial evidence for this. This is often used as one of the arguments by people concerned about animal welfare.

Mate ... I learnt a new word on the Weekend.

Vegequarian ... a Vegetarian who eats fish and the like.

No, that's a vegetarian who eats horses. One that eats fish is called a pi$$caterian, because they take the pi$$.

No. The first version of Windows I encountered was 2.0. At the time we had RM Nimbus' at school, where they hid Windows behind a line-art style MS-DOS menu system. At home I had GEM, which I think was more advanced than Windows until Windows 3.0 came out. I remember catching a glance of Windows 3.0 running on an administrator's PC in the school office and asking "wow...what's that!". Not long after I got a copy at home and it definitely blew GEM away. But it was Windows 3.11 that had the networking support that made it viable for businesses to roll out. Windows 3.0 may not seem much now, but it felt like a revolution at the time and it was more robust than it's immediate successors 95, 98 and ME.

Who is Lance Armstrong?

Very arrogant USA cycling superstar. Won the Tour de France like 7 or 8 times in a row from late 90s. Finally admitted to being a blood doper EPO a couple of years ago after being accused by every teammate he ever had. Stripped of everything, including his dignity. Oh had testicular cancer, might have been given a year to live or something like that and lost one ball in the year before winning his first tour. Absolute Hero to absolute zero.

To be fair, Livestrong distanced themselves from Dopestrong after the USADA reasoned decision was released - I don't believe he has anything to do with the foundation anymore.

I think this is an interesting video on the possible effects of extreme running, over a long period of time, on the heart. Basically the gist is that a light running regime is good for the heart, but marathon running and related high intensity training isn't, if sustained for many years. Incidentally, the OP mentioned running for about an hour a day at a speed of roughly 10k/hour. If he was to cut that back to 4/5 days a week I think it would pretty much fall into the category of healthy running. Not trying to scaremonger here, nor claim the content of this video as gospel - just food for thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g8eEYwtfSo&feature=player_embedded#t=0

Shoes: Highly overrated unless you really have the wrong shoes/feet. But THIS, you should feel in your knees after 1km.

What can he do if he has the wrong feet?

Hi Brit1984,

I'm a fairly experienced runner and have run and raced a lot in Thailand over the past few years. A few comments:

- You mention that you used to run about 2 hours a day, every day, when at Uni. I'm not clear whether you're attempting to do the same thing now, but I guess you at least have an expectation of being able to build back up to that. In my opinion, 2 hours a day, 7 days a week is overdoing it unless you a very serious amateur or an elite. You can get away with these things when you're a teenager, but even at 29, that is too much in my view. I think you should have at least 1 day totally off running. If you are still in the "getting back into it" mode, then I would suggest no more than 4 days running, with possibly an extra day doing some other exercise like swimming or gym work.

- I was quite fit when I was in the UK and then didn't do any running at all for 2 years when I first came to Thailand. When I went out to do my first run in Thailand I had to have a walking break on a lowly 5 mile training run. It must have taken a good 6 months to build up from there to anything like my previous level. In other words, don't expect too much too soon....build it up slowly.

- Running in Thailand is much harder than the UK due to the heat, humidity, air pollution, dogs and lack of pavement to run on. However much you get used to it, it will probably never be possible to get back to the level you had before in the UK.

- You should be running at 6am.

- Eat about an hour before you run. I find porridge is the absolute best energy food for a run. Definitely don't eat sweet things leading up to the run and don't stuff yourself just before you start.

- I find that some days the legs feel good and some days I feel like I have no energy or power right from the very first steps. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it, it's just one of those things. But you do get to recognise the feeling of being "on a bad day" and just don't read too much into it and struggle through the run in a low gear.

- I note the points made about stretching above. I've never been a big fan of stretching myself. However, I would recommend some very basic stretches before you start. Just lifting up each of your knees to waist height a few times. Possibly holding your feet to your bum. Don't over do it, but a couple of basic stretches like I've mentioned does make a difference in my view.

- Frankly - and I know this is contrary to what some people have said above - but I would fully expect aching leg muscles to be the limiting factor. It's difficult, because we don't know exactly what sort of pain/aching you are experiencing, but I would be much more worried if you said you had pains in your chest. Even when I have tried a long run after a year of inactivity, I have always found it to be aching legs that stopped me and not being out of breath. It seems normal to me.

- At 29 you should definitely not be having any age related issues. You're basically in your prime as far as long-distance running goes. You might be surprised how many ultra runners there are in their 60s.

All the best with your training. I don't know where you're based, but I know there is a thriving running scene in Chiang Mai.

great post, thanks

i will aim to go 6am (had been going ~8am or ~6pm) but my time is flexible so i could go early, and get up an hour earlier to eat (i was eating +3 hours before)

now i'm in bangkok but my medium term plan is to move to chiang mai, partly because i imagine there are some good places for jogging there, although my friends say there aren't so many good public parks there (although they are thai friends with little knowledge/interest of anything "outside")

It's true that Chiang Mai doesn't have much in the way of public parks for a city of it's size. There are basically two in the centre, neither of which are big enough for any serious running. However, a bit out of town you have the Huay Tung Tao lake, which is a beautiful place to run. Also, you can just go out to the country lanes on the outskirts of the city fairly easily, which make for good running.

Good thread this, some great advice..

I started cycling 2 years ago and running last Sept. Ran my 1st half marathon in Chiang Mai at Xmas (2h7min).

Building up gradually is the way to go. I think you are doing too many days a week for full recovery.

I have just started on a 20 week plan for my first 50k ultra in Oct, can't wait for it. I am running 3 times a week and biking or swimming twice. Only 1 long run on a Saturday, at the moment 45min but will gradually build up to 4hrs before the race. Finally easing off for the final 2 weeks.

For salts, I use Nuun tablets that I get in U.K. Seem to work well after a longer run.

Gels instead of carb drinks and some solids after an hour or so (home made energy bars).

This is interesting, another though on hydration..!! https://wattbike.com/uk/guide/getting_started/advanced_hydration_advice

Hope you work it out OP, let us know how you get on.

Off topic, but is it the Mae Hong Song one you're doing?

Yes...

Ok, good luck. I'm registered for that one as well

Good thread this, some great advice..

I started cycling 2 years ago and running last Sept. Ran my 1st half marathon in Chiang Mai at Xmas (2h7min).

Building up gradually is the way to go. I think you are doing too many days a week for full recovery.

I have just started on a 20 week plan for my first 50k ultra in Oct, can't wait for it. I am running 3 times a week and biking or swimming twice. Only 1 long run on a Saturday, at the moment 45min but will gradually build up to 4hrs before the race. Finally easing off for the final 2 weeks.

For salts, I use Nuun tablets that I get in U.K. Seem to work well after a longer run.

Gels instead of carb drinks and some solids after an hour or so (home made energy bars).

This is interesting, another though on hydration..!! https://wattbike.com/uk/guide/getting_started/advanced_hydration_advice

Hope you work it out OP, let us know how you get on.

Off topic, but is it the Mae Hong Song one you're doing?

some great ideas thanks so much...

weak legs muscles... yes i have chicken legs... i need to do some gym work (or maybe squats in my room holding random heavy objects)

bad footwear... yes the air bubbles have burst on both my trainers but the last 5/6 months coincided with a time i've been too poor to buy a replacement pair... i will try to find a cheaper but decent pair

carbs... i have a big bowl of muesli every morning and maybe half a loaf of bread per day, but very little rice (no potatoes, no pasta)... not sure if it's enough but i will try carbo loading the night before a jog and see if it helps

dehydration... by the end of each jog i am normally soaked wet through with sweat (except only the bottom corners of my tee-shirt) so this could well be an issue, i currently drink 600ml water per 1 hour jog but i will experiment drinking more (or using energy drinks)

swimming... i should do this more, i think (almost) everyone should, thanks for the push

Could also be low sodium level if you are from a colder environment and over-sweating. I have had hyponatremia several times over the years in the tropics. Not common, but can happen with us falangs in the tropics. RE-hydration salts works wonders about 1/4 way, 1/2 way and 3/4 of the way through a marathon. Without it, I can't finish the run. Main symptom I notice is weakness in the legs, well, overall weakness.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia

It's a good point, but I would be cautious about taking salt tablets for 10k training runs without further evidence that it's an issue. Thai food is very salty, so it could even be the other way round and he needs less salt.

Hi Brit1984,

I'm a fairly experienced runner and have run and raced a lot in Thailand over the past few years. A few comments:

- You mention that you used to run about 2 hours a day, every day, when at Uni. I'm not clear whether you're attempting to do the same thing now, but I guess you at least have an expectation of being able to build back up to that. In my opinion, 2 hours a day, 7 days a week is overdoing it unless you a very serious amateur or an elite. You can get away with these things when you're a teenager, but even at 29, that is too much in my view. I think you should have at least 1 day totally off running. If you are still in the "getting back into it" mode, then I would suggest no more than 4 days running, with possibly an extra day doing some other exercise like swimming or gym work.

- I was quite fit when I was in the UK and then didn't do any running at all for 2 years when I first came to Thailand. When I went out to do my first run in Thailand I had to have a walking break on a lowly 5 mile training run. It must have taken a good 6 months to build up from there to anything like my previous level. In other words, don't expect too much too soon....build it up slowly.

- Running in Thailand is much harder than the UK due to the heat, humidity, air pollution, dogs and lack of pavement to run on. However much you get used to it, it will probably never be possible to get back to the level you had before in the UK.

- You should be running at 6am.

- Eat about an hour before you run. I find porridge is the absolute best energy food for a run. Definitely don't eat sweet things leading up to the run and don't stuff yourself just before you start.

- I find that some days the legs feel good and some days I feel like I have no energy or power right from the very first steps. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it, it's just one of those things. But you do get to recognise the feeling of being "on a bad day" and just don't read too much into it and struggle through the run in a low gear.

- I note the points made about stretching above. I've never been a big fan of stretching myself. However, I would recommend some very basic stretches before you start. Just lifting up each of your knees to waist height a few times. Possibly holding your feet to your bum. Don't over do it, but a couple of basic stretches like I've mentioned does make a difference in my view.

- Frankly - and I know this is contrary to what some people have said above - but I would fully expect aching leg muscles to be the limiting factor. It's difficult, because we don't know exactly what sort of pain/aching you are experiencing, but I would be much more worried if you said you had pains in your chest. Even when I have tried a long run after a year of inactivity, I have always found it to be aching legs that stopped me and not being out of breath. It seems normal to me.

- At 29 you should definitely not be having any age related issues. You're basically in your prime as far as long-distance running goes. You might be surprised how many ultra runners there are in their 60s.

All the best with your training. I don't know where you're based, but I know there is a thriving running scene in Chiang Mai.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably try out the "larger" one in Sisaket since that seems to have a few recommendations.

There are a couple of vets in Sisaket that I know of. If you look at the Sisaket map post number 40 on this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/63324-isaan-maps/page-2

One is located 2E on Thanon Thelpa same side as the post office as you head towards the police station. It's small and friendly.

The other which I know performs operations is located one street back and runs parallel to the railway food market map reference 4F. It's down the street off Thanon Khu Khan towards the school. The start of the street has a Charoen optics and home pro or home mart on the corner. This is a bigger vet with a large selection of pets and pet products.

Thanks for your suggestions. I will check them out.

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a good vet (for pets rather than farm animals) in either Ubon or Sisaket?

Thanks.

Down in Sisaket there's been rain and wind (not just from the red curry the night before) on virtually a daily basis. Personally I love it as it's nice and cool and the garden gets watered without me needing to lift a finger.

Regarding the above post. This seems at odds with advice I was given when I asked a very similar question. See thread: Working in Thailand for Overseas Company.. Bascially, that money earnt abroad and withdrawn from an ATM doesn't attract income tax in Thailand but may well do in your home country.

"I've got 13 channels of sh!t on the TV to choose from" - I think the problem is not limited to Thailand.

Hi,

Sorry for the morbid topic. How would one call an ambulance in an emergency in Chiang Mai? I.e. The equivalent of 999 in England.

I heard that if you don't speak Thai you can call the Tourist Police. Not sure whether you can only call them from a public phone box (or from a mobile), whether you need money to make the call, and whether they answer 24 x 7 or not.

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I'm planning to work in Thailand for a UK company that does not have a presence in Thailand (i.e. no office there). I will be paid into a UK bank account and will then withdraw that money from an ATM as and when required.

As I understand it, I should pay Thai income tax rather than UK income tax because I will be living in Thailand for more than 180 days of the year.

I have two questions regarding my situation and would really appreciate some advice:

1) Am I correct in understanding that I should apply for a Non-Immigrant Type B visa but that I do not need a work permit.

2) I understand that one only pays Thai income tax on money brought into the country (i.e. money withdrawn from an ATM in my case). If the money in my bank account comes from a variety of sources (e.g. salary, dividends, interest etc) then how can I, in practice, say which of the sources of income a particular withdrawal relates to when it comes to filling in my Thai tax return.

Thanks for any help.